The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-06-17


luck.
"I'm getting to be house-keeper.
said she. checrily. to herself. Those
fried fish this morning tasted quite
good. and the wild plums that 1 pre-
served yesterday are certainly going to
be success"
But If it is always darkest before
daylight, it is also sometimes brightest
before an unexpected Thunderstorm.
And one day old Kinda bethought her
self to feel i'll of Monday morning
Of rheumatic fcverlIl- .1n hsY- q,
Roxy went to carry her little pail Of
milk and . stone crock of plums, for
Kinda had . child-like fondness for
sweets.
'.Hinda," she faltcred. 'can't you
wash for me this week? Do try-there's
a good Kinda"
The old woman wriggled herself
about on her uneasy couch wringins
her hands and rolling up the yellow
white of her African cyeballs in pite-
Gus fashion.
''Not dis var week, honey" she an
swcred. plaintively. "not for de Queen
an all de royal chilluns. No; ner next
week. neider. Dom knows I'll ebcr
wash agin. honey" with a mournful
croak i'm her voice.
Roxy's countenance fell. "But, Hin
d." she pleaded. "Aunt Sally isn't
able to wash; and besides. she has
found whole thickct of witch-hazel
some where up the creek. and she won't
sleep night nor day until she gets the
roots all dug and scraped, and the bark
stripped OFF and put sleeping in alcO-
hol. Hinda"-with sudden inspira-
tion-''do you think could do the
washing?"
"You, Miss Roxy-oh, git out"
"But. Kinda. somebody must wash."
ut amt no work for a young lady.
Miss Roxy" said Kinda, decisively.
Every thing is work for young
lady," pleaded Roxy, '.if it has got to
be DONE
Kinda shook her head. "YO'll break
yo' back. honey, an parboil yo' hands,
an"
"Oh. l don't mind all that. Kinda. if
only Aunt Sally would think the clothes
looked decent" urged Roxy. "Tell
me how to do it, Hinda-there's dar-
ling"
..Well, honey. yo' put de clothes
asoak dc night afore." unwillingly be-
gan Kinda. "in plenty o bar soap
sliced up thin; an yo' bile 'em well.
an yo' doan forgit de blum. an mind.
yO' doan git de starch too stiff. an be
suah yo' rensh de clothes right smart.
an'-oh! dar goes de pain in my po'
ole bones agin, jes for all de world like
crooked lightnin'."
So Roxy returned home not much
wiser than she went. I'd give all my
algebra and geometry" sighed she,
eff only knew how to wash"
Joy of joys! as she went past Squire
Honcywell,s big cream-colored house
she saw colony of white garments.
veritable flags of truce to her troubled
mind. fluttering in the wind from line
in the back garden.
They're washing" said Roxy to
herself, with \ Frightening face.
SHOWS the time for me to 60 in and
see how it is done"
She slipped insinuatingly in at the
open kitchen door. whence cloud of
white steam floated forth. Good
morning, Docia," she said to Miss The
odocia Honeywell. the Squire
daughter. "Do you suppose your
grandmother would like jar of my
wild plums? They're nice color, and
keep their flavor beautifully. No.
don't stop your work" Gas Miss The
odocia paused courteously, and began
to wipe her soapy arms on a roller
towD; "go on. just as if l wasn't
here"
And she eagerly settled herself to
take note of the stout young woman's
every motion. But Miss Theodocia' S
ideas Of politencss were great deal
too well defined to allow her to spend
her time in washing when there was
company.
you're very kind. Tn sure" said
she. "but the clothes can wait. dare
say granny would relish the plums, and
anyhow we've a city boarder this
month. an artist young gentle nan, and
any little luxury comes in handy for
the table"
IAN artist?' wistfully repeated
Roxy.
Eyes. nodded Docia. ''Such pictures
rs he paints with squeeze or two out
of his color-tubes, and dab of his
brushes! l declare it seems like magic.
You paint. too, Roxy Stephens. don't
you?"
"A little" confessed Roxy, thinking
g,liitily of the peach-blossom plaques
and the panels covered with abortive
attempts at autumn leaves that she had
spoiled. "But paintings no use, Docia.
For woman Imean. I'd a deal rather
know how tO-wash."
Docia Honeywell burst out laughing.
"What odd things you do say, Roxy
cried She .'But when it comes to paint
ing being no use. l just wish you could
see the little bits of canvas and mill.
board that our Mr.. Jefferys gets hun
dred and fifty dollars for. A-huEdred
and fty-dollars! Going, are yOu?"
for, since the business of washing
was temporarily suspended. poor
Roxy's purpose was blighted. ''Well,
I'm sure it was very kind Of you to
think of the preserved plums, and well